Federal regulations require students to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy.
The intent of this policy is to ensure that students who are receiving federal and state financial aid are making measurable progress toward completion of a program in a reasonable period of time and a reasonable number of credit hours attempted in their program of study.
Academic records are reviewed at the end of each semester. In order to receive and/or maintain eligibility for financial aid, a student is expected to meet the following academic progress requirements:
If a student fails to maintain a financial aid cumulative GPA of at least 2.000 or if the student earns less than 67% of attempted coursework, the student is placed on a warning status for the next term/semester attended. The student remains eligible for aid during the warning status.
Any student on warning status who fails to make SAP at the end of the warning term/semester or has reached the Maximum Timeframe (150%) will be placed on a suspension status. The student will remain on suspension status until SAP is demonstrated. Students are ineligible for federal and state aid while on suspension status. Students on financial aid suspension are prohibited from using aid to pay for tuition, fees, and books; however, the student may pay charges using his/her own resources. A student may appeal the termination of financial aid by completing an appeal application obtained from the Financial Aid Office.
Other than when an appeal is granted for unusual or mitigating circumstances, a student can reestablish eligibility only by taking action that brings the student in compliance with the qualitative and quantitative components of the Financial Aid Standards of Academic Progress including maximum timeframe.
Students who have been reinstated from suspension through an appeal may continue on a probationary status for at least one term. The student will be required to follow an approved academic plan for continuation of the probationary status. Students are only allowed to appeal once for an extenuating circumstance.
Students who withdraw from a class will be calculated as follows: Grades of W, WD and WP do not count towards GPA. However, grades of W, WD and WP will count towards the calculation of the 67% rule and 150% rule. Grades of WF will count towards GPA, 67% rule, and 150% rule. Grades of WE do not count towards any of the above rules. All withdrawals will have a negative effect on a student’s academic status for Federal Student Aid including loans except grades of WE.
Repeated coursework is included in the calculations of the GPA rule, 67% rule, and 150% rule.
Credits transferred from other colleges or universities are included in the calculation of the 67% rule and 150% rule. Transfer credits do not affect GPA.
Students are allowed to receive aid for developmental coursework, not to exceed 30 credit hours. After a student has reached 30 attempted credit hours, developmental coursework will not be included in enrollment status for determining federal and state aid disbursements. Developmental credits, up to 30, are excluded from the Maximum Timeframe calculation.
Students enrolling in late starting (mini) semester classes should be aware that the credit hours would not be included in enrollment status for payment until each class begins. If the enrollment status increases/decreases when a new class begins, the student may or may not be entitled to an additional payment of aid. Students withdrawing from classes could cause a decrease in aid in the late starting (mini) semester classes. Additionally, this could cause an overpayment of aid that the student must return. Federal regulations require this recalculation of enrollment/aid.
For more detailed information on HCC’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy, refer to the HCC Catalog, or HCC website at www.halifaxcc.edu. Also, you may visit the financial aid office and speak with a Financial Aid Specialist.
